Fruits and vegetables are good for the mind
From: BioMed
Central via EurekAlert!
Eating a Mediterranean diet or other healthy dietary pattern,
comprising of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts and low in processed meats,
is associated with preventing the onset of depression, according to research
published in the open access journal BMC Medicine.
A large study of 15,093 people suggests depression could be linked
with nutrient deficits.
Following extensive research into diet and its effect on our
physical health, researchers are now exploring the link between nutrition and
mental health. This is the first time that several healthy dietary patterns and
their association with the risk of depression have been analyzed together.
The researchers compared three diets; the Mediterranean diet, the Pro-vegetarian Dietary Pattern and Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010.
Participants used a scoring system to measure their adherence to
the selected diet, i.e. the higher the dietary score indicated that the
participant was eating a healthier diet.
Food items such as meat and sweets (sources of animal fats:
saturated and trans fatty acids) were negatively scored, while nuts, fruits and
vegetables (sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals respectively)
were positively scored.
Lead researcher, Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, University of Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria, says "We wanted to understand what role nutrition
plays in mental health, as we believe certain dietary patterns could protect
our minds. These diets are all associated with physical health benefits and now
we find that they could have a positive effect on our mental health."
"The protective role is ascribed to their nutritional
properties, where nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables (sources of omega-3
fatty acids, vitamins and minerals) could reduce the risk of depression."
The study included 15,093 participants free of depression at the
beginning of the study. They are former students of the University of Navarra,
Spain, registered professionals from some Spanish provinces and other
university graduates.
All are part of the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra)
Project, a cohort study started on 21st December 1999. The cohort has been used
to identify dietary and lifestyle determinants of various conditions, including
diabetes, obesity and depression.
Questionnaires to assess dietary intake were completed at the
start of the project and again after 10 years. A total of 1,550 participants
reported a clinical diagnosis of depression or had used antidepressant drugs
after a median follow-up of 8.5 years.
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